Summary of article: English Language.
By Samantha Lawrie Auburn University
Samantha Lawrie is Associate Professor of Graphic Design at Auburn University. Her article English language appeared in Art, Design and Communication in Higher Education Volume 6 Number 3, and this was
the intended audience.
This article informs the reader of her understanding of the
meaning of what the ‘direct experience’ is, and how it affects Graphic Design and its practitioners thinking in the contemporary world of wasteful consumerism. I would consider this to be an academic article.
Lawrie uses several expert extracts from for example, Eisner, Hollein, Descartes and Merleau-Ponty, to clarify her understanding.
Her argument is that because senses interact and design relays on the visual it is not purely conceptual. She has attempted to apply the teachings of these experts to her own classroom in an effort to apply ‘direct experience’ to educate and inform them through exploration of the real, physical and lived world in contrast to the explanation, information and technological approach.
The works of Maurice Merleau-Ponty are drawn upon to emphasis the, ‘something more’ that is vibrated and resonated through work generated from a willingness to experience through exploring the senses rather than solely from hierarchy and colour. Her belief is that the personal sympathetic touch gives ‘something more’.
Lawrie attempts to deal with issues such as deconstruction, analysis and conceptual development due to the education of her students and goes into great detail to explain the synaesthetic nature of perception and how we have unlearned to see, hear and feel.
Theories that are used to underpin her point of view are, structuralism and poststructuralism.
The pre-occupation with concept due to the experience of communication and language dulls our senses to the surrounding world.
The complexity of culture, language and education are outlined as encouraging linear mathematical thinking, which is in contrast to the life world of creativity.
As a designer and educator Lawries objective is to not only teach the importance of communicating between business and consumer but also between groups of scientists, activists and citizens and other social groups. She stresses the importance of Graphic Designers being mediators between human relationships.
By Anthony Wheeldon
Word count: 339
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